Australia may prevent a Louis Farrakhan visit

SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 8 (JTA) — Australian officials said Louis Farrakhan had not yet submitted the papers necessary to enter the country. Even if the Nation of Islam leader, who is on a world tour, were to submit such papers, there is mounting pressure for his exclusion on the grounds that he promotes racism. A decision on whether the Nation of Islam leader will be permitted to enter Australia can only be made after his application to visit is received. During the past week, Farrakhan’s racist and anti-Semitic statements have received widespread publicity in the Australian media, which has dubbed him the “minister for hate.” Mark Leibler, chairman of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, an Australian Jewish group, said there would be extreme disappointment if Farrakhan was allowed to visit. But he said the Jewish community would not “take to the barricades” over the issue.